He hushed me when I started rambling on about how I couldn't go back to the Basin. He said they needed me. But I was useless. Completely useless. All I did was wander the Basin. I wanted to help my herd in some way. Anyway. But I push those thoughts aside, staring at Mauja's icy orbs. When he begins speaking about Frost I instantly flick my ears back, more tears welling up in my eyes. All these emotions collided once more, exploding. All this anger and rage. The tears fell towards the earth like rain drops, falling into the white snow. I shake my head, keeping my body pressed against Mauja. "Even if I am her mother, she does not care. I don't know what's gotten into her. She just... doesn't appreciate what I've done for her." I burst into another sobbing fest, lowering my head far down before coughing slightly.

The cold air crept deep under my skin, making me shiver. Although it was Tallsun the Steppe remained frigid and icy. Like Mauja. Although I can sometimes catch glimpses of emotion in his icy eyes, it only lasts a moment before vanishing. Heat rose from Mauja's body, warming me slightly. But it was still cold.

Mauja instantly reacts to me asking him to sire a child. He begins to stare at me, and I feel weak, shrinking away from him.

"Why?"

He demands. Instantly I flick my ears back, burning with embarrassment and frustrated. "I-I-I just..... " I trail off, attempting to think of why I wanted a child from him. "Because, that child... it would mean everything to me. You just tore my heart in half, and that child, that child would stitch most of it back together. Please. Please." Probably my most pathetic excuse to have child, but with all these emotions I couldn't think very clearly.

"What difference would it do?"

Mauja demands once more. I sigh, he just didn't get it did he. He didn't understand I couldn't exactly explain things very well while I was in this broken state. "M-M-Mauja, please, just... please. I know it would make a difference, I-I just don't know how to explain it...." I look up at him, my heart feeling as though someone tied a boulder to it. I couldn't move. I was weighed down by all these emotions. I couldn't speak clearly. I was constantly stumbling over all these words. My mind was in a whirl of thoughts, many of them concerned Mauja. A few of them concerned the child that I wanted from Mauja. That is, if he was willing. If he wasn't, well, I don't know how I'd live through that.

Another question slips from his dark lips, and I try to sum up an answer. "E-e-expect out of it?" I can feel my black lips quivering as I speak, the words slowly sliding off my tongue. "I-I-I don't know. Just... please." I beg him once more. And hopefully the last time. I can feel my knees wobble again, but this time I'm able to keep myself from collapsing.

Now silence had slipped between us, keeping us quiet. I stared at Mauja, wondering what he would say next. Would he be angry or frustrated and leave or would he agree to sire a child? I doubt he'd agree. I brace myself for the worst, whatever was to come from him next.